Comments on AdoptUsKids blog: adoption professionals are listening

hey James,I'm from Jonesboro Ar and would like mor...

2008-07-30T10:36:00.000-04:00

hey James,

I'm from Jonesboro Ar and would like more info on your support group. I run the support group in Jonesboro, but am always looking to hook up with others near me.

We are seeking email addresses for the agency work...

2008-07-21T13:28:00.000-04:00

We are seeking email addresses for the agency workers that assisted you with the homestudy/search/adoption process. We’d like to add them to our informative email blasts. If we can coordinate with the caseworkers and train them on resources and policies, the adoption processes nationwide will be improved. Please provide the name of the worker, agency, and office email address to me at kkirkpatrick@adoptuskids.org. Don’t worry – your name won’t be included in our message. Thanks!

Hello fellow adopters! Our family has 5 successful...

2008-07-07T16:32:00.000-04:00

Hello fellow adopters! Our family has 5 successful adoptions and also suffered two disruptions. We have both praised and cursed the whole process from Induction to Permanancy. In reading some of your comments I can really identify with both the incredibly frustrating ones and the nothing but praise ones. I have to face this issue one day at a time and one individual at a time. I can get soooo upset at the whole picture. Remember the Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr accepting the things you can and cannot control. I have seen some ugly things done to kids by people in the system and I have seen some people that truly amaze me at how much they do for the kids and their incredible patience! I just want to encourage anyone going through a hard time right now that 1) You are NOT alone! 2)There IS help available. 3)Get revenge on the bad days by having good days ;-) 4)It is normal to ask yourself during the hard moments, "what have I done?!" (it's in my wife's book, "The Heart of Adoption".

In the North part of MS we have a support group. All About Adoption support group. People come from TN, AR, and MS. It is sponsored by Heart of Adoption Ministries, Inc. We have subject matter experts come and share information, but the best moments are when everyone tells their personal stories. There is a lot of head nodding when someone is telling their story. From those looking to adopt to adults who were adopted and are spreading the word that adoption was good for them and all the steps (pretty and ugly) in between. No subject is too sacred. My kids like helping out too. Now if I can just get them to mow the lawn...

Let your frustration become action. Your pain become a purpose. If we had not had such hard times adjusting these last 8 years to the different adoptions, and struggling for 12 years to get the kids I wouldn't be so doggedly determined to make permanency a reality. We have two boys adopted internationally, one boy and two girls adopted from foster care. They fight like cats and dogs. Are so loud I think I am going deaf. They LOVE to remind me of how OLD I am. They are still dissapointed that they were not adopted by rich people who spoil kids (they say I sound like the credit card commercial where every sentance ends in a "no"). If you ask them what they are thankful for they all say the same thing. "We are safe".

It is NOT easy. I think being slightly "eccentric" helps a lot. I can't imagine my life without having these kids. They have been through so much. When I hear them laughing and carrying on all the hassle is so worth it.

James
Lots of love, lots of kids, Lord we need more room...

Heart of Adoption Ministries
P.O. Box 715
Horn Lake, MS 38637

I am the RRT from Pennsylvania and I am finally ab...

2008-07-02T11:50:00.000-04:00

I am the RRT from Pennsylvania and I am finally able to respond to your questions and comments. I know it has been frustrating for those who have posted questions in the past and didn’t get a response. I apologize for the delay but know that your questions and comments were heard, not only by me but also the folks working in PA’s Office of Children and Youth. We all care about the children and are committed to finding permanency for every child in the foster care system.

It is clear that you are very, very upset and you ...

2008-06-23T22:57:00.000-04:00

It is clear that you are very, very upset and you have every right to be. There are so many questions in this that are unanswered. The best thing to do (since it sounds like you are prepared to have this child at this point) would be to see where exactly the issue is. You say you were matched with this child. Was the child’s attorney not involved in that in any way? Since it has been three months, have you had any contact with the child’s attorney? How much contact have you had with the child’s worker? Do you have a case worker in the agency you are working with? Can that worker contact the worker in the other state and get more information? It is also uncommon for the ICPC worker to give that type of information directly to a family. That information comes from the worker to the family’s worker or to the family, not initially through ICPC. There are many things to be considered. First you must calm down – be angry, yes! But don’t expend all your energy on that because you will need your energy to fight for this child. You may want to contact the Recruitment Response Team in your state and ask them to contact the Recruitment Response Team in the other state. Possibly, they together could unearth what some of the issue is. However, you – or your worker -- must talk to the child’s worker! It is usually better if the conversation is worker to worker (that is unfair, yes, but that is how our system works). If you are not working with anyone right now, you will need to speak with the worker. When contact is made, concentrate on the child and the decision. Don’t talk about the clothes you have bought or learning ASL. That could make it seem like to are more focused on you than on this child. Have a list of questions written out (if you could email them, that would be good, it always helps to have a paper trail). Maintain a calm demeanor and ask about what made the agency change their mind about placing the child this you. You may eventually have to involve other parties but if the RRTs could get to the bottom of it and see where the glitch in communication lies, that would be a good thing.

These experiences are so painful. They are certainly painful for those of us seeking to adopt a specific child. We think of that child all the time. They become the focus of our being. Then, when faced with information such as you are faced with, it must feel very confusing and frustrating. Again, please look at the questions that are not answered. You must get some answers. If you were matched with this child and have not heard from the child’s worker that you are no longer the resource for this child, you must talk with that worker. And, you must get some support from your own worker and the RRT in your state. This is not a “done deal” yet, you need to figure out where the missing pieces are and then get back to finishing the puzzle. Best wishes and please keep working for this child – there are so many like her waiting and we don’t want anyone slipping through the cracks. Keep an open mind and ask lots of questions! Write back if there is more we can do to help! Good luck!

Me again. I found out the social worker who I hav...

2008-06-23T13:29:00.000-04:00

Me again. I found out the social worker who I have no name for decided this when she came back from maternity leave. She saw that I have two at home with severe CP and assumed that it would be too hard for me to parent three with CP given Ashley's needs. My middle daughter passed away last year from a stupid mistake by a doctor.. My home study showed that I have parented three with CP for many years successfully and the children thrived under my care. I can't even get the social workers name. How do I appeal this?

The California Department of Social Services is re...

2008-06-23T13:12:00.000-04:00

The California Department of Social Services is responsible for the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children here in California. We are always available to respond to issues or concerns that members of the public may have about ICPC issues impacting them. However, it is often difficult to provide an accurate response without a clear understanding of all the nuances of each case. We do have a mailbox that folks can send questions regarding ICPC issues impacting California Children. That mailbox is: ICPC@dss.ca.gov.

l, it is me again. I sent an e mail yesterday ask...

2008-06-20T12:56:00.000-04:00

l, it is me again. I sent an e mail yesterday asking how much longer the ICPC will take and got a response back. The worker for the state said that the child's worker has decided that she will not let this child be adopted by me! She further stated the child's attorney agreed. No reason why! How can this be in the best interest of this child to remain in a medical facility that is not even equipped to teach her ASL? She is 6 and they none of them have bothered up to this point to use it with her. How can they match you with a child and want you to hurry up and go see said child and then take almost three months and suddenly decide that you cannot adopt a child. I have spent a lot of money and time learning ASL and have gotten videos for her , etc so I could be fully ready. I have contacted the school to be ready for her. I have bought clothing and toys for her and now! POOF , no you can't adopt her.
This is clearly horrible for the child and then for me. What do I do with all these things I will never use? What do I do with the clothes I have bought for her? How can they do this?

We have never been given a time line on the ICPC i...

2008-06-19T11:22:00.000-04:00

We have never been given a time line on the ICPC in CA. When I call both the ICPC worker and the social worker they just say they are working on it. We began in March and it is now the middle of June. How do you find out who the ICPC liason is? and How would you be able to get hold of that person?

Hi Doorless,That sounds very frustrating! Have you...

2008-06-19T10:27:00.000-04:00

Hi Doorless,

That sounds very frustrating! Have you asked the child's social worker what their timeline for the ICPC process is? Another person who may be able to help you is the ICPC Liason from the county.

I hope that helps,

Mark
CA Recruitment Response Team

Adopting thru DFCS in the state of Georgia is a li...

2008-06-16T23:24:00.000-04:00

Adopting thru DFCS in the state of Georgia is a literal nightmare. My partner and I finalized on one child last year and will be doing so on another before the end of this year however.
My suggestion to anyone in GA is
#1 know your adoption policy - workers dont necessarily follow them and should be held accountable.
#2 dont be afraid to let your voice be heard when there is a problem with your DFCS office. Let someone know and go up high. The only thing that caseworkers react to is pressure from the top to do their jobs. Sad, but true.
Hang tough all y'all in Georgia.

This is not an easy question to answer. If you are...

2008-06-11T14:25:00.000-04:00

This is not an easy question to answer. If you are a SWAN (Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network) family, SWAN has paid your agency to complete the homestudy for you. You do not have to pay anything for the home study. If SWAN has paid for the homestudy, SWAN actually “owns” the study which means it will cost you to have it sent to another state. What SWAN has done to help families that locate a child that they want to adopt from out of state and will be using a SWAN homestudy is to allow that family to use there $2000 non-recurring expense to paid for the study.

My suggestion would be start looking in other States for young children. Once you have located a child that you are interested in, have your agency contact Larry Yarberough the Director of the Interstate Compact Unit in PA at 717-772-5506. He will walk the agency through the process of adopting from another state.

If you need anything else please let me know.

God bless

Phyllis Stevens

Please do not give up. Foster/Adoption is what wo...

2008-06-09T20:26:00.000-04:00

Please do not give up. Foster/Adoption is what worked for us. We adopted a sibling group of three from the foster care system here in New York state. If you are willing to take children of any age you will get a child right away . If you are little more selective it may take longer. Often times social services wants to find the perfect match for you and your family. We know that we are truly grateful to the foster care system and for bringing us our family plus, we then had a birth child and now have another foster children who soon may be able to be adopted. My advice is to go to your state agency and go through their MAPPS training if you have not and maybe broaden your age limit.

Chris

I am an adoptive parent, and can identify with how...

2008-06-09T20:20:00.000-04:00

I am an adoptive parent, and can identify with how frustrating the process can be. The time involved in the initial inquiry and on to the final adoption seems unbearable. If you can keep faith that the child who is meant to be with you will be identified, and that the child will become part of your family, it will make this a more positive experience. Through each adoption, the social workers are required to make the call as to the placement. They may know details of the child's case that are not available to us. Sometimes, too, the websites are not updated, and the child that is inquired on, may have already been placed. The plan is hard for us to understand, but if it is meant for you to adopt a child, it will happen. Try to hang in there!

Margaret

If adoption professionals are listening, why is th...

2008-06-09T10:38:00.000-04:00

If adoption professionals are listening, why is that I have been in the adoption process so long (almost six years WITHOUT A PLACEMENT). I had a bad experience with an agency (they did not advocate for me), and had to find another (They are GREAT).HAving to find a new agency made me quite discouraged. The journey of adoption is for those who wanted to open their lives, homes, and hearts to children that want unconditional love and forever families. I am becomining more and more discouraged as the days go by. I have joined adoptuskids, Adopt America and still have not heard anything. The children that I have inquired about social workers repeatedly say, "Oh, we are sorry but that child or those children have been placed." It seems that the agencies do not update the websites of available children. Then I have had submitted inquiries and the social worker seems to want to match my family with a child that is not in the age range that I would like to have join my family. Some social workers for children that I have inquired about have asked me about other children and when I say hat I am not interested they seems to have nothing further to say. This is sad. Social workers that I have come across have made me feel that I am NOT good enough. They have so much control over placements of children that it discourages people of color such as myself from getting involved with the adoption process. I am aware that the needs and well being of the children are the most important but who are they to judge? I have a four bedroom home, good job and am in school to acquire my degree, so what is wrong with me? My son who I rasied primarily by myself has come out great and has stood behind me throughout my disappointments but he has even said, "Mom give it up, you don't need to get your hopes up and then be shot down." Attending support groups has given me some help, but I am still asking the question, "When will it be my turn?"

I hope that someone can relate to what I am going through and is able to give me other websites and information that will help me along with my journey. I am willing to hear all bits of advice regardless of how small it may be.

Prayerfully all of us who are still waiting will hear from a social worker soon regarding a child that needs and wants our love.

Hope to hear from someone soon.

DoorlessI would think that your caseworker could i...

2008-06-03T18:26:00.000-04:00

Doorless

I would think that your caseworker could inquire with ICPC to find out what the status is in CA. I know when I was doing an out of state my adoption worker informed me at one point in time that there was just one particular form that needed to be sent to ICPC from the sending state, thus I am assuming that she had access to all info involving ICPC. I would think your caseworker would have the ability to check with ICPC also.
I dont know that 10 weeks is a huge amount of time for ICPC yet it does seem a little long. Has anyone talked to the adoption specialist in CA to see what is going on? If you arent getting straight answers from the childs caseworker I think if it was me, I would call the caseworkers supervisor and inquire as to the status. Not to frighten you, but I recently was told a story of a family waiting for ICPC and as it turned out, the original caseworker in the sending state had been saying the work had been submitted. Sometime later another inquiry was done as things were not progressing and the adoption worker learned that the original caseworker had left her position and a new worker taken over the case. When the new worker did look into she found that the work had never be submitted to ICPC at all. You are your own best advocate as well as for the child you are bringing into your life so if I were you I would make some "noise" and if need be ruffle a few feathers to get everything in order. Keep us posted and hope things go well for you.

Well,I am still waiting for the ICPC to be complet...

2008-06-03T10:40:00.000-04:00

Well,I am still waiting for the ICPC to be completed in CA. I live in WI. It has been 10 weeks since we began.I have called . .eft messages, e mailed and rarely get a response back!
This is all so sad as my new soon to be daughter is in a facility and is HOH or Deaf. She has HA's that they only let her wear 15 minutes a day. No one signs to her at the facility. She is five and it is imperative she get proper care soon.
It should not take this long for ICPC from sending state to be completed. My social worker has not heard anything from CA either since we had the disclosure.
Is there anyone out there who thinks this is an unreasonable amount of time for the ICPC?

Hi All - Chmae here!Just checking to see what is u...

2008-06-03T08:35:00.000-04:00

Hi All - Chmae here!

Just checking to see what is up with everyone? It seems the comments are at a low, havent seen many new lately?

I can see that my request to caseworkers to respond or comment has not been very effective. It is really a shame because I truly believe if we better understood what the caseworkers are going thru, their limitations, their caseload, etc it would assist us in understanding their position in all of this. I think it is also a shame because I for one would advocate for changes in the system pertaining to caseworkers if I knew for sure what to present as the issues. I think the system would be much better if we treated this as a team effort.

How are things going with everyone? Have things, as far as responses, placements, etc picked up this spring? I know they have for me, especially now being registered with Adopt America. Hang in there and lets see some comments going up!!!

Chmae

Thank you for your interest in adoption! My name ...

2008-05-28T09:15:00.000-04:00

Thank you for your interest in adoption! My name is Elizabeth Brescia, and I work with AdoptUsKids. I’m glad that you asked about this.

The good news is that case workers have the option of sending a pre-written response to families after reading their homestudies, just like they have the option of sending a pre-written response to thank families for their inquiries and request families’ homestudies. Case workers get to choose what these pre-written responses might be.

Unfortunately, the pre-written response to thank you for your inquiry and request your homestudy is used far more often than the pre-written response to respond to your homestudy is used. That’s why a lot of families think that case workers only have the option of sending the request for homestudy.

Please feel free to use the contact information that the case worker included when they requested your homestudy. Contact the case worker and ask them if they have had a chance to read your homestudy yet. If they say yes, ask them if they are still considering your family for the child. If they say no, ask them if they will hold onto your homestudy to consider you for other children they are working with who also need adoptive families. The old advice that has been around for years is true: The squeaky wheel gets oiled.

If you have any other questions about using AdoptUsKids.org, please post another question on the blog or call me at 1-888-200-4005. We want to support and assist you in using AdoptUsKids.org to contact children’s workers, be considered for children, and find the child or sibling group you are going to adopt. We are here to help.

Thank you,

Elizabeth Brescia

AdoptUsKids

I would like to comment specifically on SWAN fundi...

2008-05-28T09:04:00.000-04:00

I would like to comment specifically on SWAN funding given to agencies to promote adoptions. If I am correct, each year an agency can request a certain amount of funding based on their estimate of how many children they may place, how many adoption preps they will do, etc and the funding is then issued to that agency. I understand that once the money is received, the agency can spend it on any combination of appropriate services. In other words, the agency may have estimated they needed the funds to do 12 home studies but if they don’t do that they can use the funds to pay for the adoption prep done with children. I would assume, thus hope, that if the agency's estimates weren’t met for that year SWAN would take that into consideration before giving the funding for the next year.

So an agency does 10 homes studies and is paid 2500.00 per study. That is all well and good if the studies in question are actually used for the purpose intended. If the only requirement is that the home study is completed then what incentive is there for the agency to actually actively send out and recruit for children? The study could sit in a file for years and not a thing ever be done with it but the agency has already been reimbursed for it. Does it really matter to them at that point if the study goes out of their office?

As pre-adoptive parents, we have to wait until adoption finalization in order to be reimbursed for necessary expenses. Many states require finalization before any subsidies begin. Maybe that is how SWAN should deal with the agencies. Put together a system where agencies need to provide proof that studies were sent, families matches were attempted and then provide the funding. Not only should the agency need to provide documentation that the study was sent, it is something that someone should randomly verify. I think that if a verification process was in place that would give agency reps much more incentive to do what they are supposed to be doing. Also, it might actually prove to SWAN once and for all that caseworkers are not responding to calls and worker emails. My guess would be that workers and agencies that are not responding to calls would indeed not respond to the calls made to check the status of a child/home study. I am not at all sure that the majority of the fault actually lies with the licensed agencies but with the county agencies. Many of you, including me, have heard over and over again from our workers that those from county Children and Youth Services are not returning calls and emails. Many of us who privately attempt to contact workers on the county level are also ignored.

And, again, contact your elected officials on a county level. Draw attention to the problems and make the county agencies accountable for their actions. It is the only way. If you call a county worker concerning a child, give it a reasonable amount of time then call the county commissioners for that county. County Children and Youth Agencies are held accountable and do have to answer to their respective county as well as the state. Honestly, I would very much doubt that the people within the government are reading our comments on a daily basis. If they aren’t aware of the issues, they cannot inquire nor can they "fix" it. If your car breaks down and there is no mechanic in your family, you take the car to someone who can fix it and you in detail explain the problems you have encountered in order to allow the mechanic to find the problems. If you or a family member are sick, unless you are a doctor or nurse, you go to the doctor's office and explain the symptoms so the doctor can figure out what is wrong and find a treatment/cure. The issues we are seeing in the system are no different.

For some time now I have been a bit hesitant to pull out all the stops with complaints, etc our of fear that someone out there might remember my name and in doing that it would hinder my chances of finding a child in PA. I was just joking with an acquaintance the other day about that very subject. (so, the more of you out there that express your views the better for me!! LOL) seriously, though, those of you who are making the comments and feeling ignored, are not getting anywhere in PA anyway, so maybe it is not such a big deal. On the up side is that maybe a caseworker out there will somehow recall your name and realize that the kids are the main concern in all of this, not the county, the state, the federal government, etc. It is the kids that we are fighting for!!!

Why do the adoption agencies have computer generat...

2008-05-26T22:26:00.000-04:00

Why do the adoption agencies have computer generated "thank you for your inquiry" but no response to home studies being sent for the specific child your requiring about? Our case worker has sent our home studies to aproximately 10 childrens agencies with no response of even receiving them.We have read that there are 500,000 plus children in foster care,if they were all adopted then all the social workers would be out of a job. At least thats why social workers don't reply to your inquiries.

Wow, this is an amazing thread and very emotional....

2008-05-26T10:58:00.000-04:00

Wow, this is an amazing thread and very emotional. First of all, we are not experts and we have not completed the adoption process. I have found that we get frustrated with this system routinely and that agencies differ in how they communicate with us. I have also found that we are our best advocates in this process.

We have been extremely fortunate, after reading the posts, with our licensing and home study process. We applied to our local social services December 18, 2007. Our fingerprints and background checks were completed in early January and we submitted all of the paperwork for application. We asked for our paperwork up front and continued to push the agency to give us everything early. We started MAPP classes in January and graduated in February. Our Home study was completed in March and we received our foster care license in April. So we are the exception, it appears.

As we entered the search for a child, we took this on ourselves and did not wait for the agency. The agency was upfront with us, letting us know that there were not any children available in our area and that the wait could be extremely long. Initially when we bombarded our worker with requests on children and requests by outside agencies for home studies, there was a little resistance but that has seemed to change with time. We keep the agency involved and we also get feedback and information on children from our agency.

We treat the search as a second job, spending 3 to 4 hours a day researching, calling caseworkers and emailing. We have been to the local schools discussing special programs for special needs children and what programs are available, have researched local therapists and counselors and found which ones are best equipped to handle issues found in adoptions, and have read nearly every book on the amazon list for adoption of children in the foster care system. This allows us to talk to the case workers of children that we are interested in and know if this child would be a good match for us. We are able to discuss what is available in our area and discuss how this would be beneficial or not available for certain disabilities. This type of information has been received extremely well by the case workers and most all of them comment on our preparedness. This also seems to make a difference in the case workers returning our calls, answering our emails or answering the phone when we call.

We are in the final matching for three wonderful children at this time (one in Missouri and two in Florida) and expect to know if we are selected in the next couple of weeks. The case workers for these children have called us regularly to update us and our agency on the status of selection and where we stand.

All in all we have found the process to be frustrating at times, there is too much paperwork, too much bureaucracy, and the agency personnel and caseworkers are busy. We also determined that we are our best advocates and we need to push our agency and the case workers to give us information and status updates. We are always extremely respectful to all of these people, regardless of how they treat us. We followed the advice of many, using the "squeaky wheel gets the grease" philosophy. Additionally, we determined that the process is not perfect, we have to take what is there and believe that what happens is for the best. This is about the children and they have been waiting much longer for us than we have for them.

We have been in contact with numerous states and find that some are better than others, but we have found that mostly it is dependent on the individual caseworker and each is different. However, I will say that the folks in Missouri seem to be on the ball and respond quickly and keep in contact. Georgia and Virginia seem to be just the opposite, as we have yet to get any response past the initial request for a home study after dozens of inquiries. Some case workers are just easier to work with and some are not. We tend to move on when a case worker seems uninterested in us and fails to answer phone calls or emails. It is not personal, they have their job to do and they believe that they are doing it correctly - so we don't get discouraged and move on as well.

Obviously we can not pretend to understand everyone's issues with this system and we don't want to make light of any of the problems that folks are experiencing. We did feel that a positive post might be helpful for those that are just entering the process. We wish everyone the best of luck in their search!

"if adoption professionals are listening" why aren...

2008-05-22T17:40:00.000-04:00

"if adoption professionals are listening" why aren't they responding? I too live in Pennsylvania and I have adopted before in the past.Somehow I remember it being much easier the last time.
It is a shame how the workers simply "ignore" emails and calls.
I have contacted a caseworker from Monroe County a total of 10 times and STILL no response.My worker calls for her every other DAY!!!
How do they expect to place children?
On the other hand I have contacted an agency in Chambersburg,the child is placed however ANY time I contact the worker I get a response with a day!!!
I just heard from her again today.There truly needs to be something done with the system.
Philadelphia is also a county I have had much sucess with hearing back from although the child I inquired about has already been placed.I know that you will not list the names of these"no response" caseworkers but maybe you should so they can be avoided.
Who wants to waste the time to inquire when NOBODY responds back?

Hi all:I'm still writing letters and sending email...

2008-05-22T13:41:00.000-04:00

Hi all:
I'm still writing letters and sending email to elected officials and to celebrities, especially those who have adopted. I'm also in the process of becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer because I want to help the children in the system get better results. Based on my own experience with the system, while it claims that it is looking out for "the best interests of the children," the children's interests are not even considered. Everyone looks out for the biological parents' interests and since foster parents have no legal rights concerning the children we take into our homes, we don't count.
I prefer to help the children who are rotting in a system where the right hand too often either has no clue or doesn't care what the left hand is doing. The child welfare system in PA and in this country is an entrenched bureaucracy which refuses to change its way of doing business. Why fix something that isn't broken?! There is also insensitivity among too many of the case workers toward the children's situation. I have run into several caseworkers with 20 or more years exp & they strike me as callous and indifferent individuals. For example, I mentioned in an earlier blog that a social worker with over 25 yrs exp referred to the children her office receives as "dirty," meaning they have issues. I bristled at the remark.
I'm also reading a lot about foster care and adoption in PA & in the U. S. so that I can get a better understanding about the whole system. I'm focusing all my efforts on the children to ensure that their interests are actually being considered. Being a CASA volunteer will only allow me to help one child at a time, which I don't mind because had most of the children we see over and over again on the adoption websites had a CASA representative who was truly looking out for their interests, they would have been placed in permanent adoptive homes years ago. I encourage you to become a CASA (or the equivalent) volunteer in your state. You don't need to be a lawyer or anything like that. There are training sessions involved. Based on my readings, there are many children in need but not enough volunteers to help them have their voices heard, especially in court. What you need is a commitment to helping the children. This could be something else to do while you wait months and/or years to foster/adopt. All this activity is keeping me sane. Char

To Anonymous from PAI think your question of why c...

2008-05-21T07:48:00.000-04:00

To Anonymous from PA

I think your question of why caseworkers in PA dont respond is a very typical concern that all of us have with this state. I have blogged twice concerning a question with SWAN and out of state assistance in placing children and while I am sure Kate has indeed forwarded the question to SWAN or Diakon, have yet to receive an answerfrom them. Not only caseworkers in PA that seem not to respond, it is an overall problem in the state. I am
currently looking to add a child(ren) to my family and I have to be honest and tell you that I no longer bother to look for children in PA. I am fortunate to have a worker who does out of state adoptions and works very hard for not only me but for the children, however, I know that there have been times when she has inquired for me and others for PA children but doesnt receive responses from the caseworkers. Her agency is not a SWAN affiliate thus there are some counties that will not deal with her because of this. I feel this is just another way the children in PA are being held back from finding homes.
While I am sure that there are many PA children in need of permanent homes and while I do feel for them, I am not naiive enough or maybe patient enough to sit back and wait forever for PA to finally place a child with me. There are thousands of children in the United States who in fact are just as deserving and in need of forever families as are the PA kids and since I am capable and willing to provide that, I look at all states.
Another blogger for this site, Char, has started a campaign of writing to people of importance in PA to try to correct some of the issues. I too have written politicians, etc and done my best to explain what I see as issues with the process in PA as well as have asked each of them to come to this blog site and read the comments pertaining to adoption in PA. I would ask that anyone in PA that has found the process faulty do the same. It is the only way there will ever be changes initiated, though I think it will be a long time in coming.
I firmly believe that a HUGE issue in PA is that each of the 67 counties has their own agenda. Each use different criteria for placement, subsidies vary greatly from county to county and I am sure there are some counties that have workers and systems that are just plain, old bogged down and overloaded with cases. While I do agree that children who are in custody of the state need to remain under the supervision of their respective counties, I think PA could do the state and most importantly, the children, a big favor by somehow making criteria, subsidies, etc more uniform by instituting state-wide regulations and procedures.
I think I have stated this before, but I had done an inquiry on a PA child and never received a response and if I recall correctly, (this was in my "early phase" before I learned to keep notes on every inquiry i do!!! lol)
I had inquired twice for this child. Ironically, he ended up in my home as a foster child, quite a long distance from his original county, and while it seemed no one paid any attention to my previous inquiries, I am now in the process of finalizing with this child. Again, go figure!!!
A sad thing also with PA, and maybe some other states as well, I have heard comment after comment from people who would be willing to look out of state but say their agencies will not do so. Not only does PA seem to be hindering their own process, it seems that they are also guilty of preventing children from other states in finding permanent homes.
The whole point of the adoption and foster care system should be to provide permanent, loving homes to children in need of them. States should be cooperating and working together to do this, not preventing this from happening. But, I do have to say that there are states, like OR, that are wonderful to work with. The entire process is time consuming and while most states require a minimum 6 months before finalization, it really shouldnt take any qualified family years to find a child(ren) who are a match. It should also not be that children are aging out or sitting and waiting for years before a placement is found for them. It does take time as well it should, but the wait for the children shouldnt be due to a system that is faulty or a caseworker who just doesnt bother to respond.
Maybe we need a blog category so that caseworkers can anonymously comment as to the conditions they are working under so that we might better understand their side of it. Sometimes it sounds as if we are always bashing the caseworkers but I am sure there are many, many great workers out there who may be just as frustrated with the system as we are.
In fact, CASEWORKERS OUT THERE - we all would much prefer to work hand in hand for the children. We would much prefer for this to be what it should be---- a positive experience for everyone involved. Please, post comments, tell us as prospective adoptive families what we can do in order to help change the system and see that the focus is placed back on the children. Tell us what we can do to help you with making the process a little more timely and simple. Are the issues on a state level? Are the issues on a federal level? Is your caseload such that time is precious so that not all calls can be returned? Please, talk to us!! I dont for one minute believe that there is anyone in this process that would not be willing to write letters or make calls to improve the process. The goal of everyone who reads and uses this site it to find permanent homes for children. There are families everyday who are giving up because the process can be a huge emotional burden. It could be that just hearing from caseworkers and better understanding the process and issues that people may in fact be more patient and willing to wait a little longer. I am not always sure it is the lengthy process that causes people to give up and stop their search. I think most of the time it is the frustration and NOT knowing that drives many away. Enlighten us, PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!
Chmae